Schizachyrium plant named ‘Chameleon’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Schizachyrium scoparium, ‘Chameleon’, that is characterized by its leaves that are striped green and cream in color in spring and early summer, its leaves that become flushed with pink and light purple in color in late summer and fall, and its small plant size.

Botanical classification: Schizachyrium scoparium.

Varietal denomination: ‘Chameleon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSchizachyrium scoparium and will be referred to hereafter by itscultivar name, ‘Chameleon’. ‘Chameleon’ represents a new cultivar oflittle bluestem, an ornamental grass grown for landscape use.

The new cultivar was discovered as a chance seedling by the Inventor inHantay, France in May of 2014 in a trial field that had been plantedwith seeds of Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’ (not patented). Themale parent of ‘Chameleon’ is therefore unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished under thedirection of the Inventor by culm division in Rijswijk, The Netherlandsin 2017. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by culm division andtissue culture using meristematic tissue has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Chameleon’ as a new and unique cultivar of Schizachyriumscoparium.

-   -   1. ‘Chameleon’ exhibits leaves that are striped green and cream        in color in spring and early summer.    -   2. ‘Chameleon’ exhibits leaves that become flushed with pink and        light purple in color in late summer and fall.    -   3. ‘Chameleon’ exhibits a small plant size.

The female parent plant of ‘Chameleon’, ‘The Blues’, differs from‘Chameleon’ in having foliage that is blue-green in color and in havinga taller plant height. ‘Chameleon’ can be most closely compared toSchizachyrium cultivars ‘MinnblueA’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,310) and‘Cairo’ (not patented). ‘MinnblueA’ differs from ‘Chameleon’ in having ataller plant height and foliage colors that are blue-green and fade topurple in the fall. ‘Cairo’ differs from ‘Chameleon’ in having a tallerplant height and foliage colors that are olive green to bluish red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Schizachyrium. The photographwas taken of 6-month-old plants as grown outdoors in 17-cm containers inHantay, France.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant of‘Chameleon’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close up of the inflorescence of‘Chameleon’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close up of the foliage of‘Chameleon’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close up of the foliage color in thefall of ‘Chameleon’.

The colors in the photograph are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newSchizachyrium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 6-month-old plants of the newcultivar as grown outdoors in 17-cm containers in Hantay, France. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—September to November in Hantay, France.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous, perennial grass.        -   Plant habit.—Upright, ovate, small statured.        -   Height and spread.—Average of 38.2 cm in height from soil            level to top of foliar plane, 58.5 cm in height from soil            level to top of floral plane, average of 34.3 cm in diameter            as grown in a 17-cm container.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—No unique susceptibility/resistance to            pests or diseases has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous roots on woody rootstalks, 158D in            color.        -   Propagation.—Culm division and tissue culture.        -   Root development.—An average of 6 weeks or root initiation            and an average of 6 weeks to produce a young plant.        -   Growth rate.—Slow to moderate.-   Culm (stem) description:    -   -   Primary shoots.—Average of 25.1 cm in length, 1 mm in            diameter, internode 5.6 cm in length.        -   Stem appearance and shape.—Rounded to moderately angled            (average; 2 angles).        -   Stem luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Stem aspect.—Average of 5° from vertical.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—Young; 150D, mature; 178A to 178B, covered by a            thin waxy layer that is a color between 122D and 202D,            fading to the base to become 152A and 145B, internodes 146A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Linear, sheathed with a leaf blade extending            from ligule at nodes.        -   Leaf division.—Simple, margins entire.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf base.—Sheathed to base of the node.        -   Leaf apex.—Narrow and long acuminate.        -   Leaf venation.—Parallel, not distinguishable in color from            leaf, only main vein is visible.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 15.2 cm in length and 3 mm in width.        -   Leaf aspect.—Flat, slightly twisted.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 5 per shoot.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces smooth, glabrous, matte.        -   Ligule.—Membranous, an average length of 1 mm and NN155A in            color.        -   Leaf color.—Sheathing; 138B, margined 155D to 158D, fading            to 180D at the base, young leaf upper surface; 137B,            margined and axially striped NN155D, young leaf lower            surface; between 136C and 137C, margined and axially striped            NN155C, mature leaf upper surface between 136A and NN137A,            margined and axially striped between 4D and 155D, vein 146B,            mature leaf lower surface; 189A, margined and axially            striped between 4D and 155D, vein 146B, autumn leaf color            upper surface between 136A and NN137A, margined and axially            striped 182A and 186B to 186C, autumn leaf color lower            surface slightly lighter than N186A margined and axially            striped 187C and 187D and lighter.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Spike, spikelets in pairs, consisting of 1            sterile spikelet and 1 fertile spikelet, average of 4.4 cm            in height, 1 cm in diameter.        -   Flower quantity.—An average of 20 per inflorescence and 500            per plant.        -   Time to flower.—Average of 10 months.        -   Flower buds.—Average of 1.4 cm in length, 1 mm in diameter,            linear in shape, smooth, glabrous and slightly glossy            surface, colors; 182B, base tinged 147A.        -   Flower description.—Spikelets in pairs consisting of 1            sterile spikelet and 1 fertile spikelet, sterile spikelet            consisting of a single glume, fertile spikelet consisting of            2 glumes and 2 lemmas.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright.        -   Flowering habit.—Moderate.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flower shape.—Spikelets in pairs, consisting of 1 sterile            spikelet, 1 fertile spikelet, typical for Schizachyrium.        -   Flower size.—Average of 1.5 mm in height and diameter, 1.5            cm in length.        -   Flower longevity.—Average of 1 month, persistent.        -   Peduncles.—An average of 8.8 cm in length, 3.5 mm in            diameter, moderately strong, held vertical, smooth and            glabrous, slightly glossy, 183D in color.        -   Pedicel.—Sterile spikelets pedicellate, fertile spikelets            sessile, average of 1 mm in length, 0.5 mm in diameter, held            in an average of 5° to axis, moderately strong, smooth,            glabrous and matte surface, 201A in color.        -   Spikelets.—Sterile spikelets; consist of a single glume,            linear in shape, average of 7 mm in length, 1 mm in width,            apex narrow acute in shape, cuneate base, ciliate margins,            both sides 201A to 201B in color, fertile spikelets; consist            of 2 glumes and 2 lemmas, 1 lemma elongated with an awn,            glumes and lemmas glabrous and very slightly glossy, 2            glumes oppositely placed at the base of each spikelet,            lemmas oppositely placed above the glumes.        -   Glumes.—Flat to slightly concave, linear in shape, average            of 5 mm in length, average of 1 mm in width, apex narrow            acute in shape, cuneate base, immature and mature upper and            lower surface colors N200C to N200D, tinged N77C, no            venation visible on glumes.        -   Lemmas.—Concave to linear in shape, average length of            shortest lemma is 7 mm, average length of longest lemma with            awn is 1.3 cm, average width of both lemmas is 0.75 cm, top            shortest lemma is narrow and acute in shape, top of longest            lemma is pungent and awn-like, base of both lemmas is            cuneate, colors of immature and mature lemmas are similar;            upper side of shortest lemma is N200D, slightly tinged N77C,            towards the top tinged 147C, lower side of the shortest            lemma is N200C, tinged N77C, margined 147B, both surfaces of            longest lemma 155D, lower half margined N77C, no venation            visible on lemmas.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—No stamens present.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 2, average of 1 mm in length, 2 plumose            stigmas on short, file styles, stigma; color is 200C, 0.75            mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, style; an average of 0.25            mm in length, 200C in color, ovary; 200C in color.        -   Seeds.—None observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Schizachyrium plantnamed ‘Chameleon’ as herein illustrated and described.